Burglar-alarm device.



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BURGLAR ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IAII I5, IBI?.

Patented Jan. 14, i919.

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R. W. VAN..

BUHGLAR ALARM DEVCE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN15.1917.

Patented Jfm.'14,1919.

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BURGLAR ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED I/III. I5. I sIII.

Imm-ed Jan.14,`1919.

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OFFICE.

ROBERT W. VAIL, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

BURGLAR-ALARM DEVCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Jan. 14, 1919.

Original application led August 7, 1916, Serial No. 113,609. Divided and this application led January 15,

To all ywhom t may concern Be it known that ll, ROBERT W. Vern, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Furglar-Alarm Device, of which the following is a specification.

rFhis application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 113,609, filed August T, 1916, for a burglar alarm system, said prior application having issued on August 28. 1917, as Fatent No. 1,238,363.

My object is to provide in connection with my burglar alarm system novel means whereby any authorized person may shove aside from windows or other entrances the mechanism disposed thereover, without interfering with the successful and continuous operation of the traveling element of the system.

.l attain the obj ect of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of a window having the endless traveling element (or elements) mounted on mechanism permitting such element to be moved to one side by any au thorized person when desired; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the traveling element moved to one side to leave the window free; Fig. 3 is a view of the take-up boX or means for providing additional length of traveling element to be utilized by the device when in the position shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clamp for the compensating lever; Fig. 6 is a detail of the sliding parts shown in Figs. l and 2; Fig. 7 is a detail of my telescopic adjusting bar used in the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 3 is a detail of recessed member 37 and Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for carrying both cable and chain on adjustable roller blocks; Fig. 10 is a detail transverse sectional view through the lower easement of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a front view of the mechanism for feeding the endless strand, with the electric alarm mechanism,

Serial No. 142,433.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figs. land 2 show an arrangement of the protective system to permit of the moving of the traveling element or elements from their usual position in front of a window byany authorized person to give access to the window (or other opening or passage) when desired for the purpose of opening and closing it. Above and below the window are mounted suitable easements 5 into which is threaded the traveling element 1 over suitable rollers 2. Adjacent to casements 5, wherever positioned (in Figs. 1 and 2 members 34 are shown above the floor and below the ceiling) are provided suitable half easements 34. In easements 34 are mounted rollers 35 which have the function of antifriction and guide rollers. Mounted to half easement 34 by means of suitable straps 36 is a bar 37 having a longitudinal groove 38. Mounted in groove 38 are suitable slide blocks 40, to the face of each of which is mounted a roller 2 over which the cable l travels. When it is desired to move the protective endless traveling element from its usual position traversing the window space, to give access to the window, the blocks 40 are moved or slid along on rod 37 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The slack cable or chain necesary for this operation is furnished by a suitable slack supplying device such as illustrated in Fig. 3, which is first operated to give the necessary slaok in the traveling element, the slide blocks 40 then being moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 to leave the window clear (see Fig. 2). A suitable pole engaging opposite blocks 40 may be used in moving the blocks to one side, the pole having projections 153 adapted to be simultaneously inserted in corresponding apertures 154 in the slide blocks of any suitable character, as shown in Figs. 7 and 6. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, I provide the slack supply device illustrated for supplying additional cable to the protective mechanism for the window illustrated in Figs: 1 and 2 whenthe cable is in the position shown in Fig.` 2. rlhe device consists of a vertical frame 43, to the upper end of which on a cross bar 44 are mounted a series of rollers 45. Between the cross bar 44 and the base 46 of the frame are extended grooved guide bars 47 between which slide tongued blocks 48. rllhe blocks 48 are provided with a rectangular opening 49 in which slide slightly smaller blocks 50, to the face of which are mounted wheels or rollers 51. Spanning the distance between the two side members of frame 43 is a raised or arched bar 52 in the face of which are elongated slots 53. Mounted on the upper end of the blocks 48 are the bolts 54 which'project through the slots 53 and are held in place by thumb nuts 55. Block 50 is provided with a depending tongue 56. Tongue 56 is provided with a set screw 57 for .fastening the block 50 rigidly to the block 48 when desired. Mounted midway the frame on either side on the side members are anti-friction rollers 58. When it is desired to open the window illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in order to give the necessary slack to cable to permit of moving the protectivc apparatus from its protecting position in front of the window, the slack supply device is operated. `First the set screws 57 must be removed from the tongues 56 of blocks 50. Next the set screws 55 must be removed from the slots 53. This permits of the raising of blocks 48 between the guide bars 47 of the frame, thus supplying the additional cable necessary for moving the protective mechanism from in front of the window to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. To the upper end of the frame 44 rollers 45 are mounted for the purpose of guiding the traveling element, as illustrated.

As shown in Fig. 3, there is provided a suitable clamp which acts as a stop for the blocks 48 in the guideways 47 and which consists of an L.-shaped member 58 and a smaller L-shaped member 59 clamped together by a set screw 60, impinging between the bars 47. To the long` end of the member 58 is mounted a plate 61 which extends between the bars 47 and beneath the block 48. The bloclr 48 slides up and down between the members 47.

Referring to Fig. 7, there is illustrated the pole by means of which slide blocks 40, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, are slid along to leave the window space clear. The pole is a telescopic device or rod 150 provided with a clamp 151 for holding it in adjusted position.4 The opposite ends are provided with ferrules 152 to the end of which is provided a small projection 153. This projection ts into small apertures 154 in adjacent faces `of the blocks 40. It will be observed that upon the extension of the telescopic rod or pole the projections 153 may be inserted into the apertures 154. Upon adjusting the clamp 151 the blocks 40 opposite to each other are operatively engaged, thus providing 'a means for sliding the blocks 40 simultaneously to one side, as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, there is illustrated a keeping means for holding the blocks 40 in spring held position when in the location shown in Fig. 7. It consists of aA small leaf spring 155 fastened to the under side of block 40. On the end of spring 155 is a small button 136 which projects inte recess 157 on the under face of the bar 37. On either side of the recess 157 is a gently curved guide recess 158. lVhen the blocks 40 are moved into the protective positions as shown in Fig. 1, the but-tons 156 will be guided through recessed portions 158 to seat themselves in the recess 157 successively, and thus hold the blocks 40 in proper position.

Referring to Fig. 10, there is illustrated :1 view of the invention having two traveling elements-a cable and a chain-instead of a single traveling element, the cable and chain being arranged over suitable rollers` 2, mounted on a suitable extended axle member as shown. The operation is the same as when a single roller 2 is employed with a single traveling element, as in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, there is illustrated a method of propelling the endless cable together with means for sounding the alarm whenever the endless traveling cable 1 is tampered with at any point. l provide two standards 65, connected. at the upper end by a cross bar 66. To member 66 are mounted suitable shafts (shown in my Patent No. 1,238,363) to one end of which are mounted small pinions 69. Mounted in bearings 70 on the standards 65 is a shaft 71 on which are pinions 72 meshing with the pinions 69; On one end of the shaft 7l is a gear 73 which meshes with a gea-r 74 on the drive shaft of the motor 75. as illustrated in Fig. 11. On the face of the gear 74 is mounted a beveled pinion 76 to which is meshed a pinion 77 on a telescoping shaft 78. Shaft 78 is mounted in bearings 7 Sl. carried by the standard 65. Keyed to the lower member of the telescoping shaft 78 is :i beveled pinion 80, which meshes with a bevel gear 81 on a. shaft 82 supported in bearings 83 secured to a sliding plate 84 as illustrated in Figs. 11 and12. he ends of plate 8-lare slidably mounted in grooved portions el standards 65. The inner faces of the standards 65 are provided with grooves 85 in which the member 84 has vertical movement to the possible extent indicated by grooves 85 in Fig. 11. On the lower end of the shaft 78 is a beveled pinion 86 to which is meshed a pinion 87 mounted on a shaft 88 in' bearings 89 carried by a plate 90, having` a limited vertical movement relative to plate 84. any suitable means being employed to retain plate 90 in contiguous relation to plate 871-. Plate 90 is a large plate slidably mounted ou plate 84, and it provides an adjustable means for supporting members 91, 92, and 93, as illustrated. On the shaft 88 are mounted a large beveled pinion 91 and two smaller pinions 92. The smaller pinions 92 are in mesh with pinions 93 carried by stub shafts Cri 94 (illustrated in my Patent No. 1,238,363), which extend through plate 90 and are provided on their opposite ends with sprocket wheels 95.

The large gear 91 is in mesh with a gear 96 carried by a governor shaft 97, to the upper end of which is provided an electric contact 98 which acts as one pole of aswitch controlled by governor 99 mounted on a shaft 97. The other pole of the switch is attached to and controlled by the governor. The switch is normally held open when the device is running.

r1`he shaft 82 has mounted thereon a series of beveled gears 100 which mesh with gears 101 mounted on stub shafts 102 carried by the movable plate 84. To the opposite end of the stub shaft 102 are mounted grooved rollers 103. Carried by one of the frame members 65 is a contact member 104 and a corresponding contact member 105 is carried by the movable plate 84. @n the shaft 71 on the opposite end from the gear 73 is mounted a beveled pinion 106, to which is meshed a pinion 107 mounted on a shaft Shaft 108 is mounted in bearings 109 supported on a standard 110.- 1ntermediate the end bearings 109 is a bearing 111 which carries a contact member 112 forming one pole of a switch, the other pole of which is carried and controlled by the governor 113.

The movable plate 84 also carries a projection 114 to which is connected a cable 115. Cable 115 is guided over rollers 116 which are mounted on an arm 117 secured to the standard 65. Cable 115 leads to and is connected with a suitable alarm or pull bell 118. f

Mounted in a support 119 is a governor 120, the lower end 121, of which constitutes one pole of a vertically slidable switch. rlPhe opposite pole 122 of the switch is carried by the frame. The governor shaft 123 has mounted in its lower end a beveled pinion 124 which is in mesh with a beveled pinion Pinion. 125 is mounted on stub shaft 126 which is mounted in any suitable bearings 172 carried by the frame 119. 0n shaft 126 is mounted a large grooved wheel 127 over which cable 1 travels. Members 124 and 125 appear in my Patent No. 1,238,363.

The endless cable 1 is fed in over a roller 128 carried by the upper end of the standard 65, thence over the roller 68 to the rollers 103 and back and forth to the center of the device where it is led upward over 'the grooved wheel 127 and back again to the rollers 103, thence back to the rollers 68 and back and forth to the other standard 65 where it is again carried 0H over a corresponding roller 128 and thence to the protected openings or elsewhere out through the system.

1JWhenever the endless cable strung across openings in the building, such as windows, doors or the like is tampered with, should the cable be broken or severed, it will result in the retarding of governor 120, gravity will cause the arms of the governor to lower and thus lower pole 121 into contact with pole 122, closing the circuit and thereby sounding the alarm. Should the endless cable be pulled or stretched out of its normal position the increased tautness will tend to lift the plate 84, thereby raising the contact iinger 105 into contact with the finger 104, thus closing a circuit and sounding an alarm.

When endless chain 63 (as illustrated in Patent No. 1,238,363) is employed in the mechanism, if the chain is tampered with the governor 99 will be retarded and its pole moved into electrical contactwith contact 98. rllhis operation is effected through the gears 93 which mesh with gears 92 on shaft 88, thence through gear 91 to the meshed gear 96 on shaft 97, which drives the governor 99, reference being had also to my Patent No. 1,238,363.

When the endless chain as a result of tampering by any unauthorized person, is pushed out of its line of movement, it causes plate 90 to be moved upward until plate 90 reaches the limit of the grooves in plate 84. The continued upward movement of plate 90 results in raising plate 84, to which projection 114 is attached, as shown in Fig. 12, thus pulling cord 115, illustrated in Fig. 11, and sounding a suitable alarm 118.

Shaft 97, as illustrated, is continuous to the governor, its sections rbeing operatably connected by a suitable sleeve 160 which is rigidly attached to one of the shaft sections and loosely engaged over the other, the sleeve being longitudinally grooved on its inner portion to engage over a correspondingly positioned projection on the shaft section over which the sleeve is loosely mounted, to permit of vertical movement of the lower section of shaft 97 with plate 84, while not interfering with its continuo-us rotary movement.

rlhe operation of the invention has been set forth in connection with the foregoing description of the construction disclosed in the views described. The traveling element 1 is continuously traveling and as it is taut, any stretching, stoppage or movement out of its regular path will exert such tension on the alarm mechanism (such as set forth in my Patent 1,238,363 of which this application is a continuation) as to cause the sounding of an alarm.

1t is within the contemplation of my invention to provide either a cable, a chain, a wire or any suitable continuously traveling element, and the words traveling element when used in the claim are to be construed as referring to any of the foregoing members. And 1 may provide a plurality of such traveling elements, as illustrated in F ig. 10, to increase the diniculty of an attempt vto tamper with the device.

It is also Within the contemplation of my invention 'to provideany suitable form of incasing mechanism for the -endless traveling element. The drawings illustrate my preferred form.

lt is further Within Athe contemplation of my invention to provide any suitable form of grooved roller, Wheel or sprocket member for mounting and supporting :the traveling elements, and the Word roller .as used in the claims shall be construed as applying 'to lany suitable rotatable element adapted to support ythe traveling element.

lVhat I yclaim is:

1. Ina burglar alarm system liaving electrical means `propellingan endless traveling element and a lgovernor controlled alarm operatively connected with the vtraveling element, the combination of an endless traveling element, :a structure having openings and incased means supporting the aforesaid traveling element in operating position adjacent said openings, to be .protected from unauthorized entry or exit, means slidably mounted on opposite sides of said openings for supporting the endless traveling element across the openings and adapted to be moved to leave the openings clear, and compensating mechanism to give slack to the traveling element to admit of its being moved to one side of any one of theopenings `from its normal position to leave said opening clear to any authorized person.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an endless traveling element, a structure having openings and means slidably mounted on opposite sides of said openings for supporting the endless traveling velement across said openings and adapted to be moved to one side of said openings to leave the openings clear, compensating mechanism to give slack to the traveling element to admit of its being moved to one side of any one of the openings from its normal position, whereby to leave said opening clear.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of easement members mounted to opposite sides of a Window frame, the casements having longitudinally grooved bars, slide blocks slidably mounted to the grooved bars, rollers mounted on the slide blocks, an endless traveling element intel laced over the rollers and across the window space, and means adapted -to engage opposite slide blocks for moving the mechanism to one side to leave the window space clear, substantially as described.

4. In burglar alarm mechanism, a slack supplying'device comprisinga frameliaving a crossbar at its upper end, rollers mounted on the crossbar, grooved guide bars extend ing longitudinally of the frame, tongued blocks slidably mounted on the guide bars` blocks adjustably mounted on the tongued blocks, rollers mounted on the latter blocks, an endless traveling element interlaced over the rollers, means attached to the frame for adjustably controlling the position of the tongued blocks, and fastening means for the respective block members, whereby the blocks may be adjusted to supply slack to the traveling element, substantially as de scribed.

ROBERT W. VAIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 10.0. 

